Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Prepare to encounter the most dangerous disease to ever plague the Mushroom Kingdom…prepare to face….the Blorbs! The victims suffer unstoppable inflation and subsequent rolling-around-like-a-giant-ball symptoms – it’s not only uncomfortable, it’s embarrassing! Luckily, help is on hand as the nation’s dynamic duo, Mario and Luigi are called in to puncture the pandemic.

Meanwhile…deep in the forest, the relentless rogue Bowser ingests a particularly mutated-looking mushroom after being assured of its Mario-bashing fungal properties. Duh! Fooled by a smarter tyrant, (in this case named Fawful), Bowser becomes instead a Koopa-shaped vacuum cleaner, and decides that if he can’t beat Mario and Luigi….he’ll eat them. Or at least swallow them.

So here we are. Mario and Luigi looking for a way out of Bowser’s body to banish the terrible curse of the roly-poly disease. Bowser en route to his castle in an attempt to protect it from the sinister Fawful. Fawful himself in the midst of hatching an evil plan to take over the entire Mushroom Kingdom! What can be done?

Inside

Let’s-a go! You won’t get anywhere fast if you don’t build up your strength in battles. Every time you win a battle, you gain Experience Points. When you collect a certain number of them, you’ll “level up” and improve your vital statistics. There are all sorts of important statistics, like Speed and Health – the main thing is that the higher the number next to them, the stronger the attribute! Check out the sections below for the important fighting facts.

Vital Statistics

Any prize fighter knows that you need to be in tip-top condition to knock out your opponent. So make sure you keep an eye on Mario and Luigi’s Health Points (HP) in the bottom left of your screen. If either of the brothers’ Health Points drop to zero, they’ll go all wobbly and keel over. If both brothers have a fainting fit, it’s Game Over for both you and them.

Tip: Have a steady supply of fungi snacks and nuts on hand to boost your Health Points.

Attacks

Getting into a fight’s real easy – just a touch from an enemy will catapult you into a face-off situation. Mario and Luigi will take turns to have a pop at the enemy – the main two attacks are the Jump and Hammer attacks.

Just choose your victim with the +Control Pad and press the action button (A or B) to crush your competitor! If you choose to Jump, try to hit the action button again before you land on your enemy to perform a double-bounce on his bonce. For the Hammer, you need to wait until you think the time is right and then release the action button to pound your foe. Don’t wait too long though or your hammer might drop off its handle (pretty shameful).

Badges

Usually learning new skills requires endurance, dedication and a keen mind. In this game, you can just put on a badge and acquire them instantly. Ace! Badges can be found or bought and will give Mario and Luigi all manner of extra tricks up their respective sleeves, although they might have to fulfil certain conditions to use them.

Outside

SHOWDOWN! Build Bowser’s bulk by taking on as many enemies as possible. Every time you win a battle, you gain Experience Points. When you collect a certain number of them, you’ll “level up” and improve your vital statistics. There are all sorts of important statistics, like Speed and Health – the main thing is that the higher the number next to them, the stronger the attribute! Check out the sections below for the important fighting facts.

Vital Statistics

Bowser’s a bruiser, but even he has his off days. So keep an eye on his Health Points (HP) meter on the lower left of the screen. If it reaches zero, he’s a goner!

Attacks

Bowser’s standard attacks come as a three-pronged prod. He can pummel opponents with a Punch attack, singe them with a Flame attack or…erm...suck them in with a Vacuum attack. The last one doesn’t sound too brutal, but just wait till you see it!

Special Attacks

As well as his repertoire of basic attack moves, Bowser picks up Special Attacks as he progresses through the game. All Bowser’s Special Attacks are unleashed using the Touch Screen and stylus, and usually see him directing a group of his Minions to do battle for him.

Giant Battles

There are some parts of the game where you’ll have to do battle GIANT style. This involves playing with the Nintendo DS turned sideways like a book and helping a giant Bowser deliver Koopa-sized chaos to his foes.

Video: Bowser: Giant battle

There are some parts of the game where you’ll have to do battle GIANT style. This involves playing with the Nintendo DS turned sideways like a book and helping a giant Bowser deliver Koopa-sized chaos to his foes.

Inside

Getting your bearings

Mario and Luigi will travel to the four corners of Bowser’s body as they battle their way to Princess Peach. As unappealing as that thought is, it’s the only way they’re ever going to progress in their adventure and find their way out to the Mushroom Kingdom. Pick a body area on the map to and travel with the +Control Pad.

Actions

The main thing to know about Mario and Luigi is that each brother has his own button. Not on his boiler suit, but on the Nintendo DS. You control all Mario’s actions with the A Button and all Luigi’s actions with the B Button. The brothers can walk, jump, swim, talk, fight and much more with their respective buttons.

Star Menu

The Star Menu holds all the information you need to assess how your adventure is progressing. Come here to use items you’ve found, inspect your inventory and change Mario and Luigi’s Gear and Badges. There’s also a handy Map so you don’t get lost!

Retail therapy

What’s life without a little shopping? Much harder in Mario and Luigi’s case! Luckily there’s Intra-Toad Square, where the dynamic duo can stock up on a whole assortment of items and gear to help them on their quest. Money makes the world go round – even inside Bowser’s body it seems – and so collecting as many gold coins as possible to pay for the stuff is imperative!

Outside

Getting your bearings

Out in the Mushroom Kingdom, Bowser can walk around using the +Control Pad, like any normal Koopa would. But it’s a big old world out there. Bowser’s not scared, but he is lazy. So if you can find the special Chakroads shortcuts to points on the Map, so much the better. You’ll have to look hard for them though!

Actions

As the Koopa King, Bowser’s all about brute force. He packs a mean punch with the X Button and breathes fire with the Y Button. Use these actions to get around obstacles and set things on fire.

Star Menu

The Star Menu holds all the information you need to assess how Bowser’s adventure is progressing. Come here to use items you’ve found, inspect your inventory and change Bowser’s Gear. There’s also a handy Map so you don’t get lost!

Retail therapy

Bowser seems a little butch for boutiques, but even he sometimes needs to stock up on nutritious chicken wings and other items. The fanciful French merchant, Broque Monsieur, is the blockhead who satisfies every tyrant’s needs.

Mario

The punch-out plumber with the curliest moustache this side of the Mushroom Kingdom is back with a vengeance! This time though, he’ll be seeing his arch-enemy Bowser from a whole new perspective.

Luigi

He’s taller than Mario, thinner than Mario and has more facial hair, but Luigi will always be the little brother. Nonetheless, he’s a vital part of the dynamic duo and, in truth, Mario would be lost without him…

Princess Peach

A princess with a problem, Peach has a kingdom full of inflated invalids and not one, but two tyrants after her land. What’s a girl to do?

Starlow

She’s the star with star quality, the envoy with extra – she’s Starlowwwwww! (aka Chippy). Sent by the princess to find a cure for The Blorbs, Starlow is an invaluable aide for Mario and Luigi.

Emoglobin

These strangely scientific blocks are full of useful information for our intrepid adventurers. Just hit them from below to benefit from their infinite wisdom.

Bowser

Get to know Bowser better than you ever thought possible – from the inside out! While Mario and Luigi get gung-ho down in his guts (let's hope there’s more than one exit), Bowser’s on a solo mission to protect his castle – and his dignity – against the dastardly Fawful.

Fawful

Don’t be fooled by the girly giggle – this madman might scream in falsetto, but there’s nothing light and fluffy about his evil designs.

Broque Monsieur + Broggy

A cheep off ze old block, Broque Monsieur and ees leetle doggie Broggy are ‘ere for all your block-shaped shopping desires…zey own all ze block shops in ze Mushroom Kingdom! Ooh la la!

The Minions

It doesn’t take long for Bowser to catch up with his Minions. Whether they’re hordes of Goombas or swarms of Koopas, they’re of vital importance to Bowser in his many battles.

Video: Bowser: Giant battle

There are some parts of the game where you’ll have to do battle GIANT style. This involves playing with the Nintendo DS turned sideways like a book and helping a giant Bowser deliver Koopa-sized chaos to his foes.

Video: Bowser: Giant battle

There are some parts of the game where you’ll have to do battle GIANT style. This involves playing with the Nintendo DS turned sideways like a book and helping a giant Bowser deliver Koopa-sized chaos to his foes.

Video: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

In the highly-anticipated third RPG adventure in the Mario & Luigi series, the brothers have to face an unbelievable new challenge that involves getting up close and personal with their arch-enemy Bowser.